Holdfast for boot or shoe stretchers



(No Model.)

. E. J. LEIGHTON.

HOLDFAST FOR BOOT OR SHOE STRETGHBRS.

No. 667,317. Patented Sept. 8, 1896.

f UNITED" STATES Y PATE T OFFICE.

EDWARD J. LEIGHTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF, AND GEORGE E. BELOHER, OF STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HOLDFAST FOR BOOT OR SHOE STRETCHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,317, dated September 8, 1896.

Application filed October 14, 1895. Serial No. 56 5,561. (No model.)

The most complete forms of shoe-stretcha ers are equipped with devices called holdfasts, adapted to lie against the counter in the heel to hold the stretcher to its place when distended within the shoe.

. I have devised an eflicient form of holdfast which can be easily and cheaply manufactured and is peculiarly strong and durable. It consists of a malleable casting in the form of a loop loosely receiving a traveler and free to move vertically, said loop carrying at its lower end a swell extending slightly rearward and shaped to engage the counter. A traveler or nut is provided, tapped to match to the threads on the long screw by which the last is spread, and having an annular groove in which the loop is received and has vertical play. When cast, the loop is elliptical and wide enough to admit the nut. It is then compressed laterally in a vise or in suitable dies until the sides of the loop are approximately parallel and just sufficiently separated to allow the loop to slide freely in the annular groove on the traveler, but not allow its disengagement.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent the manner in which I have carried out the invention.

Figure l is an elevation showing a stretcher equipped with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a face view showing the loop before compression and the manner of entering the traveler. Fig. 3 is a corresponding section on the line 8 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aface view showing the loop after it has been compressed and engaged upon the traveler. Fig. 5 is a side View of the traveler alone.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A is the split last, of any ordinary or ap-' proved construction, adapted to be spread or distended by turning the screw A by means of the handle A B is the nut or traveler, matching to the screw A and having a 'milled head B, by which it may be run backward'or forward upon the screw.. It has an annular rectangular groove 6, produced by turning in a lathe or otherwise to remove the metal and leave a neck B connecting the milled head B to a flange B The loop is marked 0. It is of malleable iron cast to the form shown,

with a hollow swell 0 extending rearward of the plane of the loop, having a smoothlyrounded surface adapted to lie against the stiff counter at the heel of the shoe. The distance between the sides 0 C when cast is sufficient to admit the flange B of the traveler, and the curves connecting the sides at the ends are so proportioned that when the loop is compressed laterally it will fit nicely to the neck B and the curves be of a diameter the same as the distance between the sides, forming a long slot with parallel sides and rounded ends. The sides and curved top are rectangular in cross-section to match to the groove 12, and the loop is long enough to allow for all the vertical play required. The loop may be compressed by suitable dies or in a vise, as usual, and when so treated is permanently engaged upon the traveler. It is preferable to have the milled head B lie toward the last, and care must be taken in putting the parts together to have them properly placed. The thickness of the loop corresponds to the width of the groove, and as the neck B is small proportionately to the flange and bearing surface in rear of the milled head a large part of the loop lies inclosed between those surfaces in-all positions and is thereby strongly and stiffly supported.

When the last has been thrust into the shoe and the traveler B- run back to engage the swell 0 against the counter, the subsequent turning of the screw Ato distend the last does not disturb the holdfast for the reason that as the screw advances to cause the spreading it also advances the same distance through the traveler, and therefore does not change the interval between the latter and the last.

Among the advantages of the construction may be mentioned its strength and durability and the small cost of manufacture. It is also light and neat in appearance.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within wide limits.

Other material, as bronze, may be used instead of malleable cast-iron. The shape of the swell C may be varied, and all the parts may be japanned or nickeled or otherwise covered to produce an ornamental finish.

Although I have described the invention as applied to a split last, it will be understood that it may be used on toe-lifts or any other forms of stretchers to which it may be adapted.

I claim as my invention 1. The holdfast described consisting of a loop of malleable cast metal having a swell and an elongated slot, a traveler having an annular groove receiving the parallel portions of the loop and a head and a flange upon opposite sides of the groove, said slot being closed at both ends and the traveler and loop permanently connected to slide one upon the other and the latter free to play vertically on the traveler between the flanges thereof, and a screw-rod having a screw-threaded engagement with the traveler, substantially as shown and described.

2. The holdfast described consisting of a loop of malleable cast metal and a swell formed thereon adapted to lie against the in terior of a shoe at the heel, in combination with a traveler having an annular groove bescrew for a last, the said loop lying in and engaging and engaged by the groove of the traveler, the loop as cast having a sufficient opening to admit the said traveler and subsequently contracted in place by compressing the sides of the loop laterally and permanently connecting the traveler and loop and allowing the former a limited movement vertically in the slot of the loop which is closed at both ends, substantially as specified.

3. The malleable-cast-metal loop 0 having the swell 0 cast therewith and extended rearward of 'the plane of the loop, in combination with the traveler 13 having the annular groove 1) formed by the head B, neck B and flange E the sides C O of the loop being sufficiently separated when cast to admit the said flange and subsequently forced toward each other by compression to permanently engage said groove and held between the head and flange whereby the traveler and loop are united against separation, and free to slide vertically one upon the other, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. LEIGHTON.

Witnesses:

J. A. BAILEY, J r., EDWARD 'MoRRIsoN. 

